Instrument control



Jan. 3, 1950 1 SPRARAGEN 2,4932 72 INSTRUMENT .-coNfrRQL Filed May 18,v 1944 Y INVENTOR BlYoms Umlage/1,

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED STATE s `PATENT OFFICE INSTRUMENT CONTROL Application May 18, 1944, Serial No. 536,126

8 Claims. (Cl. 192-8) This invention relates to control instruments having rotatable shaft operating means, and` more particularly to an instrument of this type having integral locking means associated with its operating shaft.

In electrical, radio, andv other equipment, instruments operated by rotatable shafts are in general use. When these instruments are subjected to vibration, jarring, rough handling and the like, or when the control means for the instruments are inadvertently struck a blow, the adjusted settings are often disturbed, and this is particularly true if the shafts are unbalanced, as in the case of variable condensers having rotary plate assemblies statically unbalanced, or where shafts are under constant torque due to spring action.

An object of the invention is to provide a control instrument having integral automatic locking means associated with the operating shaft, so that accidental disturbance of the instrument setting is prevented, said means being so constructed that the instrument may be operated solely by the usual operating movements heretofore employed with instruments of Vthis type, the shaft being unlocked at the initiation of the operating movement, and automatically locked at the termination of such movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control instrument having in-built automatic locking means of this character arranged in such manner that the usual mounting means for the various types of instruments, and the usual operable means for turning the shaft, may be employed substantially Without alteration or relocation.

Ihese objects are accomplished by the provision V of a novel automatic locking mechanism having a sleeve mounted on and anchored tothe frame of the instrument for encircling the operating shaft thereof to function as a bearing for same, the

mechanism having an operable member located as an extension of the instrument shaft, and having means associated with the operable member,l sleeve and shaft for unlocking, turning and auton extremely compact, and may be made compara-A tively small in size, so that it has the outward appearance of a collar on a shaft, occupying approximately an equivalent space, yet it is positive in operation, locking the shaft and instru- `mentalities controlled thereby against all accidental or casual movement.

Due to the compactness of the operating and locking means, and small space required, instruments made according to this invention may be :used Where it is desired to have the operable part flush with the instrument panel, this part, for instance, being in the form of :a slotted` head for receiving a screw driver or the like. This arrangement may be employed Where only infrequent adjustments are required, for instance in trimming condensers and has the advantage that the likelihood of the adjustment being tampered with is minimized, and the danger of the operable part being struck by a moving object eliminated.

Other features and advantages Will hereinafterappear.

In the accompanying drawings, which show the device of the present invention on approximately a 2 to 1 scale:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a panel supporting an instrument made according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the instrument mounted on the panel.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged axial section taken through the operating and locking mechanism for the instrument.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. '7 is an exploded View of the operating and locking assembly of the invention.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, referring particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, comprises a variable condenser, designated generally by the numeral IIJ. The condenser I0 has a supporting frame or body I I on which is mounted a stationary plate assembly I2 and a rotary plate assembly I3, the latter being carried by an operating shaft I4 which extends through the supporting body II.

For the purpose of mounting the condenser I0 on a panel I5, the body II, which may be of insulating material, has a pair of bored and threaded bosses I6, which extend through apertures therein, the ends I'I of the bosses being laid over at the rear of the body'` as shown in Fig. 2.

According to the present invention, the condenser assembly I@ has an operating and locking mechanism integrally afiiXed to the end plate II for controlling the shaft M, and therefore the movable plate assembly I3 of the instrument, which, as shown in Fig. 3, is carried by the shaft in the usual manner, resulting in an unbalance of the latter.. This mechanism functions in such a manner that the standard operating movements for changing the rotative position of the plate assembly i3 may be employed without any additional motions whatsoever being required, yet the plate assembly is positively locked in any position to which it may be adjusted, regardless of jarring, vibration, and the like. Thus a simple turning movement may be employed `to operate the condenser, the lock of the mechanism being automatically made inoperative at the initiation of the turning movement, and automatically becoming operative again at the termination of such movement.

This locking and operating mechanism, being extremely (compact, `may be made to .occupy very littlespace at the front of the supporting body I l. Therefore, Vthe mounting bosses i6 for the condenser need not be altered or relocated in any manner, nor is it 4necessary to relocate or vsubstantially alter .the .exterior of the operable member for the .condenser which may `extend through the panel .I 5. v

Accordingly, .as shown in Fig. 4, the body II at the point Where the Ashaft Ill passes through it, is adapted to mount a sleeve I8 which may encompass the shaft and function 4as a bearing for same. The .sleeve .i8 is rigidly fastened to the body lagainst turning, and for this purpose has a shoulder .Ilia which engages the front face IIa of the body, the end I-b of the lsleeve at the rear of .the .body .being laid over to securely hold it in place, and against turning.

As seen in Fig. '7, the other end of the sleeve I8 is .of larger diameter .and vbore to provide a locking drum .IBc `the ybore Idof which is .cylindrical and concentric with the axis of the shaft I4.

The end of this shaft extends .partially through the drum .lc and carries a lpressfitted ring .I 9 one side of Which abuts the internal .shoulder Ie of the sleeve, the .ring being held against this shoulder by a spring spider Ida engaging the rear of .the vbody' Il ancla shoulder .Mb on the shaft, so that the rotary plate assembly I3 is axially centralized in the stationary plate assembly I2.

The drum I8c and ring I9 are adapted to cooperate with each other to lock the shaft I4 against turning vwith respect to the body II, and for this purpose, see Fig. 7, the periphery ISa of the ring, which is cylindrical, has a pluralityof reliefs each of which constitutes a pair of opposed wedging :surfaces .-IiQb and |90.

When the ring .is place von the shaft I4 and within the .drum Iiic, as in Figs. 4 and 5, the `cylindrical surfaces .I 9a of the ring are equspaced from the bore lidof the drum and therefore concentric therewith, while the Wedging surfaces ISb and vIlc of each pair are spaced from the bore yI-tiol, but incline so that they approach the latter.

As .seen in Fig. 5, a plurality of pairs of locking rollers 2li and 2| are located between the Wedging surfaces I9b and IBC of the ring, and the bore Id of the drum, each pair :being yieldably held separated and in Wedging position against their respective surfaces by helical compression springs 22. The rollers 20 prevent counterclockwise turning of the ring IS and .shaft I4 with respect to the drum I 8c. as viewed in Fig. 5, and the rollers 4 2| clockwise turning, and therefore the shaft and rotary plate assembly i3' are locked to the body I l against turning in each direction.

For the purpose of releasing the shaft I4, and for turning same to vary the condenser, an operable member in the form of a disk '23 is rotatably mounted in the bore I8d of the drum I8c. The disk v2?, has a plurality of equispaced lugs 23a extending from its periphery into the space between the cylindrical surfaces I9a of the ring and the bore I8d of the drum, the lugs being adapted to engage and dislodge from wedging position either the rollers 20 or the rollers 2 I, according to whether .the .disk .2 3 is turned in one direction or the other respectively.

.Force may be applied to the disk 23 to turn same for unlocking the rollers through the provision of any suitable means. However, the device of this invention, due to its compactness and small size, is particularly suited to permit operation of the disk .23 .by means of a .central .slotted boss 24 integral with the disk as shown in Fig. 4, .the boss being flush with the instrument panel I5 and adapted to be operated through the use of a screw driver.

The use of a non-.projecting or ush type operable member in .connection with the condenser I0 requires .only a slight spacing of the latter from the panel, as indicated by the spacing sleeves IBa, and therefore but la small amount of .additional room is taken. Such slotted operable member .and flush vmounting may be used Where but infrequent .adjustment of the Yinstrument is required, and has the advantage of minimizing tampering, `and eliminating breakage where moving objects might pass .by the panel.

According to the invention, after unlocking of either one or the other `of the sets of rollers 2B, 2| in response to turning of the disk 23, so that the shaft .I'4 'is unlocked, means are provided so that a continuation of this turning will drive the shaft with it and vary the capacity of the ccndenser IU. 'This may be accomplished by the provision of a lost-motion driving connection between the disk and shaft, such a connection being shown 'in'Figs 4 lthrough 7. This connection comprises a pin 2.5 press-,fitted in the ring I9 and extending into an aperture 25 .in the disk 23, the aperture being Vlarger in diameter .than the pin so that a loose fit results bet-Ween same.

The pin 25 and aperture 26 are so located with respect to the lugs 23a that the pin is centralized in the aperture when the lugs are halfway between the rollers 2li and 2l so as not to engage same, as in Fig. 5.

Retention of the disk 23 in the drum I8c is accomplished lb ya cylindrical ring 2l' press-fitted over the drum, having an inwardly extending ange .21a engaging the outer side of the `disk to permit turning but not removal thereof.

Normally, as shown in Fig. 5, when no turning force is Ibeing applied to the disk 23, the springs 22 vhold the rollers 2li, 2l in wedging position so that the shaft I!! is locked to the body li. For this condition the capacity of the condenser will be .maintained invariable, regardless of moderate vibration, shock, etc., to the instrument. If it is desired to adjust or vary the capacity of the condenser, turning force is applied, as by a screw driver, to the disk 23. As the latter turns, it will first take up the clearance between the pin and aperture v255, without moving the shaft id, this initial action however permitting the lugs 23a to. dislodge one or the other of the sets of rollers 2 0, 2l from their wedging positions, depending on the direction of turning. This unlocks the shaft, and continued turning of the disk will now drive the shaft to any new position desired. During this movement the set of rollers not dislodged will not cause interference because each set prevents movement in one direction only. Upon removal of the turning force from the disk 23 the springs 22 will immediately again move the dislodged rollers to wedging position to lock the shaft I4 in its new adjustment, this movement also returning the disk to intermediate position with respect to the rollers and shaft, as permitted by the lost motion connection to the latter.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the ring i9 may be keyed to the shaft I4 by a pin 28 to securely position the ring.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. The combination of a panel; a frame mounted on the panel; means carried by the frame for varying a condition, including a shaft rotatable with respect to the frame; means carried by the frame and located between the panel and the frame for automatically wedgingly locking the shaft to the latter; an operable member rotatably mounted with respect to the frame and panel, extending through the latter and. having a face substantially flush with the front of the panel. said face having a groove to receive the tip of a screw driver for operation thereby; and means for renderinginoperative said locking means, and for turning the shaft in response to turningof the operable member by an applied force, the fi" locking means automatically becoming again operative upon removal vof said applied force from the operable member.

2. A control instrument comprising means for varying a condition; a frame and an operating shaft extending therethrough; a sleeve fastened to the frame, encompassing the shaft; a ring attached to the shaft adjacent its end, engaging the end of the sleeve to prevent axial movement of the shaft in one direction; spring means engaging the frame and shaft to yieldably hold the said ring and sleeve in engagement; wedging means for automatically locking the ring to the sleeve to prevent turning of the shaft; an operable member mounted on the sleeve to be rotatable in the same directions as the shaft; and means for rendering said locking means inoperative and for turning the shaft in response to turning of the operable member as a result of the application of force thereto, the locking means automatically becoming again operative upon removal of said force from the operable member.

3. A control instrument comprising means for varying a condition, including an operating shaft; a frame for supporting said means; a sleeve fixed to the frame, receiving the shaft and rotatably supporting same; a locking drum rigid on the sleeve, having an internal cylindrical surface spaced from the shaft; a ring rigidly secured to the shaft and located inside the locking drum, having a wedging surface spaced from and inclined to the cylindrical surface of the drum; a wedging roller; and means for yieldably holding same in wedging engagement with the surfaces of the drum and ring to prevent turning of the latter and the shaft; an operable member rotatably mounted in the drum, having a lug eX- tending between the surfaces of the drum and ring for engagement with the wedging roller, and having a lost-motion driving connection with the shaft so that when force is applied to cause turning of the member in one direction it will first move the wedging roller out of wedging position to unlock the ring and shaft from the drum, and then drive the shaft as the turning is continued, the roller being automatically moved to wedging position again by said yielding means to lock the shaft upon removal of the turning force from the operable member.

4. A control instrument comprising means for varying a condition, including an operating shaft; a frame for supporting said means; a sleeve fixed to the frame, receiving the shaft and rotatably supporting same; a locking drum rigid on the sleeve, having an internal cylindrical surface spaced from the shaft; a ring rigidly secured to the shaft and located inside the locking drum, having a wedging surface spaced-from and inclined to the cylindrical surface of the drum; a

1 wedging roller, and means for yieldably holding the walls thereof so that when force is applied to cause turning of the operable member it will first move the wedging roller out of wedging position to unlock the ring and shaft from the drum, and then drive the shaft as the turning is continued, the roller being automatically moved to wedging position again by said yielding means to lock the shaft upon removal of the turning force from the operable member.

5. A control instrument comprising means for varying a condition; a two-part operating structure for said means consisting of a frame and a shaft, one part carrying a mass having a center of gravity noncoincidental with its axis whereby unbalance occurs, and the other part being adapted for mounting on a base member; a bearing sleeve connected to the frame and mounting said shaft for rotation with respect to said frame; a flange carried by the sleeve; a collar permanently fastened to the flange and encompassing the shaft in spaced relation thereto; wedging means disposed in the space between the shaft and collar for automatically locking the shaft to the collar; an operable member rotatably mounted in the collar for movement with respect to the shaft and collar; and means for rendering said wedging means inoperative and for turning the shaft with respect to the frame in response to turning of the operable member by an applied force, the wedging means automatically becoming again operative upon removal of said applied force from the operable member.

6. A control instrument comprising means fo-r varying a condition; a two-part operating structure for said means consisting of a frame and a shaft, one part carrying a mass having a center of gravity noncoincidental with its axis whereby unbalance occurs, and the other part being adapted for mounting on a base member; a bearing sleeve having one end connected to the frame and mounting said shaft for rotation with respect to said frame; a flange carried by the other end of the sleeve; a collar permanently fastened to the flange and encompassing the shaft in spaced relation thereto; wedging rollers disposed in the space between the shaft and collar for automatically locking the shaft to the collar; an operable member rotatably mounted in the collar for movement with respect to the shaft and collar; and means for rendering said wedging rollers inoperative and for turning the shaft with respect to the frame in response to turning of the operable member by an applied force, the wedging rollers automatically becoming again operative upon removal of said applied force from the operable member.

7. A control instrument comprising means for varying a condition; a two-part operating structure for said means consisting of a frame and a shaft, one part carrying a mass having a center of gravity noncoincidental with its axis whereby unbalance occurs, and the other part being adapted for mounting on a base member; a bearing sleeve having one end connected to the frame and mounting said shaft for rotation with respect to said frame, said sleeve projecting from the frame and having a ange at the outer end; a collar having one edge fastened to the flange, said collar encompassing the shaft in spaced relation thereto; Wedging rollers disposed in the space between the shaft and collar for automatically locking the shaft to the collar; an operable member rotatably mounted within the collar for movement with respect to the shaft; means for closing the outer end of the collar to enclose said wedging rollers in said space; and means for rendering said wedging rollers inoperative and for turning the shaft with respect to the frame in response to turning of the operable member by an applied force, the wedging rollers automatically becoming again operative upon removal of said applied force from the operable member.

8. A control instrument comprising means for varying a condition; a two-part Aoperating structure for said means consisting of a frame and a shaft, one part carrying a mass having a center of gravity noncoincidental with its axis whereby unbalance occurs, and the other part being adapted for mounting on a base member; a bearing sleeve clamped at one end to the fra-me and mounting said shaft for rotation with respect to said frame; an enlarged flange carried by the other end of the sleeve, said flange being recessed to form a cylindrical surface encompassing the shaft in spaced relation thereto; wedging rollers disposed in the space between the .shaft and cylindrical surface for automatically locking the shaft to the sleeve; an operable member rotatably mounted within the recess for movement with respect to the shaft and sleeve; and means for rendering said wedging rollers inoperative and for turning the shaft with respect to the frame in response to turning of the operable member by an applied force, the wedging rollers automatically becoming again operative upon removal of said applied force from the operable member.

LOUIS SPRARAGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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